DC ISHRAE, the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-conditioning Engineers was founded in 1981 in New Delhi by a group of ten eminent HVAC&R professionals. These 10 founding members were:

Dr. P.C. Jain

Late Mr. M.M. Pande

Mr. M.K. Jain

Mr. D.N. Sethi

Mr. V. K. Wadhwa

Mr. N.C. Gupta

Mr. N.S. Hukmani

Mr. Anil Maheshwari

Prof. P.L. Ballaney

Mr. Rakesh Wadhwa

Mr. M.K. Jain was the founding President of the Society. The founding members were inspired by ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-conditioning Engineers but felt that ASHRAE membership could be beyond the reach of many Indian professionals due to its high membership fees (in Indian rupees). They therefore envisioned the need for a similar organization in India with an affordable fee structure for advancing the arts and sciences of HVAC&R

The aims and objectives of ISHRAE are

Advancement of the arts and sciences of heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration engineering and related services.

Continuing education of members and other interested persons in the said sciences through lectures, workshops, product presentations and publications.

Rendition, career guidance and financial assistance to students of the said sciences

Encouragement of scientific research.

Starting with 10 members in 1981 in New Delhi, ISHRAE grew rapidly and by 1989 there were about 250 members. In 1989, the first chapter outside Delhi was formed in Bangalore and subsequently chapters in other major Indian cities came up in the next 4 years as under: